I rushed into the mansion with Masha close behind, my heart pounding as I searched for the source of the scream. It had been Sasha's voice, sharp and panicked, cutting through the silence like a knife. I called out her name as soon as we crossed the threshold, my voice echoing off the high ceilings.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6T75osK78n
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2v9XX1L18
"Sasha! SASHA!"300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraxiWJOUcO
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMCh4a4Nd5
No response. Just as my anxiety began to spike, her voice came again, faint but steady. "I'm over here."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNkEQakiZP
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY7t3qLejM
I followed the sound to the study, a room lined with towering bookshelves and heavy wooden furniture. The air felt heavier here, as if the walls themselves were pressing in. At first glance, the room seemed empty, but then Sasha's voice echoed from an unexpected direction. "Behind the bookshelf."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocNEiF5Wfz
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCBJqn52zi
I stepped closer, my pulse quickening as I peered behind the massive structure. Sasha stood on a narrow staircase that descended into darkness, her face pale in the dim light. A faint, cold draft wafted up from below, carrying with it a smell that made my stomach churn—mildew, yes, but something else too, something metallic and sharp.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEmLt1yosd
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzUGHgBkuX
"Can you believe it?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at excitement. "This place has an underground room."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZU8z6UmSlZ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTBHSzDjc7
I stared into the abyss, my heart pounding. The darkness seemed to pulse, as if alive, and for a moment, I thought I heard something—a faint, rhythmic sound, like footsteps echoing from deep below.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRotPOQApl
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljHuuKKGKN
Before I could respond, the others filed into the study. Maya, Hendrick, and Martin must have noticed Masha standing by the bookshelf, or perhaps she had pointed them in our direction. Either way, they were suddenly crowding around me, their presence making the room feel even smaller.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV8QsfXKQQ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHusTPl0GS
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, her voice tight with concern.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL11vgACzfE
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T9zz0DQy2
"Is that an underground room? Sick!" Martin said, his eyes lighting up.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6o70995fm
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaoGqpeT0R
"I know, right?" Sasha replied, ignoring my glare. "I was checking out some of the books, and one of them triggered this mechanism. The shelf just slid open, and I freaked out."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiV8iaqmsR
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxbx4Ep1An
"Which book?" Hendrick asked, his tone curious.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxd57t9QFJ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF5om3K0YI
"I think it was Catch-22," Sasha said.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWGKtinWdT
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG84B3lFZVT
"Where does it lead?" Martin pressed.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob3vLtXBth
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr04dXVCGV
"I haven't looked yet."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE23vVugBiY
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbQwA3lOgz
"Can we explore?" Sasha asked, her eyes darting to Maya, who in turn looked to Hendrick. He exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible smile with Martin before nodding.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsV5w3E8GS
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8FOSyHkhK
Before Maya could respond, I stepped in. "No! Absolutely not!" I said, my voice firm. "Are you guys insane? This isn't our house. We can't just go snooping around. How am I the voice of reason right now?"300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhapJTbHpRf
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv0nYw2AQ8
"Are you saying you're not curious about what the Whites are hiding down there?" Martin challenged.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xUJXR07lk
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlxwwQP1Hf
I was. Of course I was. But I had the decency to keep that to myself.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczEpfgCzn4
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmWpLZBnqL
"Not even a little," I lied. "And even if I were, it doesn't matter. We're here to clean, not play detective."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KcroXKano
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlxHdsldBc
"Okay, spoilsport," Martin muttered.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjuOMsLEEa
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMp5dGSgIh
"Very mature," I shot back. "Did you forget why we're here in the first place?"300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn4rW0xc73
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVmM8n6BxM
I reached out to Sasha, helping her up from the staircase. Masha, ever the quiet observer, carefully replaced Catch-22 on the shelf. The mechanism whirred softly, the sound unnaturally smooth, as if the gears hadn't been used in years. The bookshelf slid back into place with a satisfying click that echoed through the room.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojk9CISPlh
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrND81n7v6
Cool. But also terrifying.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4aKHmpdGu
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5OBKxV6VY
The group drifted back to the living room, but I stayed behind for a moment, my nerves still on edge. I stepped outside, pulling a cigarette from my pocket and lighting it with trembling hands. The cool evening air helped steady me, but my thoughts were still racing.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBMlhinIZa
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMGQZm7X9y
Sasha joined me a moment later, her presence quiet but unmistakable. She held out her hand, and I passed her the cigarette without a word. She took a drag, exhaling slowly before handing it back.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJZSIR8Xek
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLYyCup8nz
"Since when do you smoke?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefH2L0Dysi
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHlPRKfWTU
"Since when do you smoke?" I countered, raising an eyebrow.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUibeew8Rnt
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnznioQ0B2V
She laughed softly, the sound almost lost in the evening breeze. "You know, this is the longest conversation we've had since you got back from rehab."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvJCvpYjj5
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCsqf64qKb
"Is it?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcBvRK21ff
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6lmpgXgYL
"You've been distant," she said, her voice softening. "I miss having my best friend. And I know Maya misses her sister."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu07iABDbdK
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRy9MFdgLn
I didn't respond immediately, my gaze fixed on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJOHoQIfn3
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5lCaRx81Z
"Do you hate me?" Sasha asked suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBlY4ixAbh
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSgYiWvr7V
I turned to look at her, surprised. "Why would I hate you?"300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo12siEO6n
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iZxWmWzg8
"Because I was the one who told Maya and the principal about your addiction."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjzQtDBY1I
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycyNVVTLQk
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't hate you for that."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh9uh8nkCt
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuxgESJ7Pp
"So you do hate me," she said, her tone half-joking but with an undercurrent of seriousness.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mJuMNXeGl
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIhY3uLbrL
"I don't hate you," I said firmly. "But I've been avoiding the clubhouse for a reason."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlXRpNJSZx
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1ESkKoiSQ
"Is it because of me and Martin?" she asked, her voice tentative.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfSTeh6ZED
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAq0p0sFdZ
"It's Hendrick," I said bluntly. "I can't stand his face."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPCKJtn7r5
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0fioMCv3p
Sasha gave me a look, her eyes narrowing. "Why can't you be serious for once?"300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeZAo7z8ki
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPFM6peKIy
"I am serious," I said, though my tone was lighter than I intended. "But fine. The school counselor thinks I blame him."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe6BFZ3p3F
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHrucjKkSZ
"Blame him for what?" Sasha asked, her brow furrowing. Then her eyes widened in realization. "He's the one who introduced you to drugs, isn't he?"300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97dUZ0oNBS
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnafxyBYuI
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. "Isn't he?" she pressed, louder this time.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0x8sMl8L6
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanaVSrSC4d
"Yes," I admitted, the word heavy with unspoken resentment.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGogKYs0QCd
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SRJGEqF0i
Sasha's face darkened, and she turned on her heel, storming back toward the mansion. I grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFd5T9HhkpF
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtVmmzvYH0
"Let me go!" she snapped, her voice sharp.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOLseZ0aut
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVRLtylvP6
"Why? So you can punch Hendrick? What good would that do?"300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbInLYdH020
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvVfX7WXJP
"You have no idea the things he's said about you," Sasha said, her voice trembling with anger. "He acts like it was all your fault, like he had nothing to do with it. If only I'd known the truth."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXKDHo8qmB
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyellgyEkyy
I looked away, my chest tightening. "It doesn't matter what he says. I made my choices."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkMo8jsklC
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNu1nk1wGq
"But he made them easier," she shot back, her voice breaking. "He knew what he was doing. And now he acts like he's better than you, like he's some kind of saint."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOatsfWzPvL
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2B3pO8iQl
I didn't respond, my gaze fixed on the horizon. The sun was sinking lower, casting long shadows across the lawn. "Maybe he is better than me," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "But that doesn't change anything. I'm still here. And I'm still trying."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDRyLT8517
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gKGZxaEXQ
Sasha stared at me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Fine."300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy90k9CHKz
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqXRXhmPWN
"Thank you," I said, offering her a small smile. "Evelyn sure is taking her time with those groceries, huh?" I added, trying to lighten the mood.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5RxQfvCIY
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYFSVwlPUI
"Yeah," Sasha said, though her tone was still distant.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkvWGG8SMw
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdqOso3b0Y
I sighed and sat down on the ground, the grass surprisingly soft beneath me. "Sit with me," I said, patting the spot beside me. Sasha hesitated before joining me, her shoulders still tense.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfCD3YxBgL
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXJmsnYQWa
The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The air was cool, and for a moment, everything felt almost peaceful.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHB380c6bj
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUS4R7ZSQm
------
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
